Pressure regulator



April l, 1952 R- T. CORNELIUS PRESSURE REGULATOR Filed Jan. 11, 194e @hll ARehaud T' Cor qlus Patented Apr. l, 1952 'UNITED STATES PATENToFEicE PRESSURE REGULATOR I` Richard T. Cornelius, Minneapolis, Minn.Application January 1'1, '1946, serial No. 640,459

My invention relates to pressure regulators and has for its object toprovide a pressure regulator particularly adapted for use with fluidunder high pressure.

Another object of the invention resides in providing a pressureregulator in which the disadvantages of frosting due to rapid expansionof the gases in passing through the regulator are overcome.

An object of the invention resides in providing a construction utilizinga pressure regulating valve having a valve head and in mounting thevalve in a manner to cause positive and effective seating of the valvehead.

Another object of the invention resides in providing a constructionlutilizing a diaphragm for operating the valve and connecting the valvehead to the diaphragm through a` universal joint.

Another object of the invention resides in providing a construction inwhich the movement of the diaphragm is limited by a device capable ofresisting appreciable pressure.

A still further object of the invention resides in arranging the valvewithin the container of the pressure regulator in suchl a manner thatthe same lies inwardly within the container and free from the surface ofthe container through Which the outlet for the pressure regulatorextends.

A still further object of the invention resides in utilizing a valveseat for the pressure regulator constructed of some suitableheat-insulating` material.

Other objects of the invention reside in the novel combination andarrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafterillustrated and/or described.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal elevational sectional view of a pressureregulator illustrating an embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan sectional View taken on line 2-2 of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of the valve mechanism showingthe parts separated from one another.

In the use of pressure regulators for fluid under high pressure,considerable frost is developed when the nuid is discharged through asmall valve passageway and particularly when humid air or other fluid iscontained within the container of the regulator. The present inventionprovides a construction whereby the disadvantages from the frost areovercome.

The pressure regulator shownin the drawings comprises a container I0 forfluid under pressure which has a pressure regulating device II connectedtherewith. Pressure regulating device II includes a valve mechanism I2and by means of which the flow of uid from' the container III iscontrolled. These various parts will now be described in detail.

The container IIJ is preferably constructed as a tube having acylindrical wall I3 and an end wall I4 at the upper end of the saidcylindrical Wall. Such containers being well known in the art, theentire container has not been illustrated, but it will be readilycomprehended that a corresponding end wall is provided at the lower endof the container. The upper end wall I4 is formed with a boss I5'threaded to receive a portion of the pressure regulating device I I.

The pressure' regulating device comprises a body I6 having a bottom wallIl and a circumferential wall I8 together with a tubular portion I9depending from said bottom wall. This tubular portion is threaded at 2lto screw into the threaded boss I5 of container I0, and serves as afitting for attaching the pressure regulating Adevice II to thecontainer I0. A lock nut 22, also screwed upon the threaded tubularportion I9, holds the device rmly attached to the container I0 and alsoprevents leakage past the overlying the body I6.

threads of the said parts.

At the upper end of the circumferential wall I8 of the body I6 is formeda ange 213. Overlying this flange is a diaphragm 24. This diaphragm' isclamped in between a corresponding ilange 25 formed on a cup-shapedclosure 25 The closure 216 is held inY position upon the body I6 bymeans of screws 2l which pass through the flange 25 of said clos- 'ureand are screwed into bosses 2B formed in the body I6. The closure 26 hasa circumferential Wall 3| connected to the ange 25 and an end wall 32extending across the outer end of the circumferential wall 3|. By meansof the construction described, a passageway 33 is formed in the tubularportion I9 of the body I6 which `communicates with a chamber 34 withinthe annular wall I8 of the said body. The wall I8 of the body I6 isprovided at suitable localities with bosses 35 which are threaded asindicated at 36 to receive tube or pipe fittings not illustrated in thedrawings. By means of these threaded bosses, inlet and outletpassageways to the chamber 34 are provided and also a place for'attachment of a pressure gauge is provided.

The valvemechanism I2 includes a bushing 31 which is inserted in thelower end of the tubular portion I9 of body I6 and which is formed witha shoulder 38 limiting the outward movement of said bushing with respectto the con-- tainer I3. This bushing hasra groove 39 formed therein inwhich an O-ring 4I is placed and by means of which a tight connectionbetween the said bushing and the tubular portion I9 of hous- Y terialsuch as any of the numerous plastic substances now available on themarket. This insert is formed with a valve seat 44 at the lowermostportion of the same. It will be noted that this valve seat is locatedwell inwardly of the Y end wall I4 of container I3, so that any frostaccumulating on the same is free from the con-i i tainer proper and towhich the said frost would readily adhere ,to cause closure of the valvemechanism and prevent proper discharge of fluid from the container. f Y

Cooperating with a valve seat 44 is a valve head 45 mounted on a valvestem 46 which extends freely through the bore 42 of the bushing 31. Thevalve head 45 has a spheroidal surface 41 which is adapted to engage thevalve seat 44 of insert 43 and which is adapted to seat against the sameat various angular positions of the said valve stem. Y v

The diaphragm 24 is backed on the upper surface by a backing member 48and is provided on its under surface with a clamp member 49. A threadedspindle 5I extends through the said clamp member, diaphragm and backingmember and is provided with a. iiange 52 engaging the inner surface ofthe clamping member 49. The extreme end 53 of the spindle 5I is threadedto receive a nut 54 which draws the clamping member 4,9 and the backingmember 48 together to securely clamp the diaphragm 24 therebetween.Between the spindle 5I and the valve stem 45 is provided a universaljoint 55, best illustrated in Fig. 3 and which is constructed asfollows:

The lower end of the spindle 5I below the dia phragm 24 is constructedwith a bifurcated head 5B having a 4slot 51 extending therethrough. Acoupling member 58 is formed with a tongue 59 adapted to be receivedwithin the slot 51. A pin EI extends jointly through said slot andtongue. The coupling member 58 is further constructed with anotherYtongue 62 which is disposed below the tongue 59 and which extends atright angles thereto. This tongue is adapted to be received within aslot 63 formed in a nut 64. A pin 65 extends jointly through the nut B4and the tongue 52 and pivots the same for relative movement. By means ofthis construction, the nut 64 may have universal swinging movement withrespect to the spindle 5I and to the diaphragm 24. The pins 6I and 65are held in position by means of clamping rings 66 which encircle thehead 5G and the nut 64 at the locality of the pins 5I and 65. The upperend of the valve stem 46 is threaded as indicated at 61 to` receive thelower end of the nut 64 which is correspondingly threaded forcooperation therewith. A cotter key E8 engages the end of the stem 46and holds the same in adjusted position with reference to the nut 64. v

lilor limiting the opening movement of the valve head 45, the clampingmember 49 is provided with a depending skirt69. This skirt is adapted toengage the upper surface of the bottom wall I1 of the body IB. Openings1I in the said skirt permit passage of fluid therethrough and bring'Vthe outer portion of the chamber 34 in communication with thepassageway 33.

The valve head 45 is urged into open position by means of two concentriccoil springs 12 and 13 which are seated at one end against an end plate14 disposed beneath the wall 32 of closure 2B. The other ends of thesesprings are seated upon the backing member 48. A screw 15, threaded in aboss 16 formed on said end wall is adapted to engage the end plate 14and vary the pressure of the springs 12 and 13. This screw is held inadjusted position by means of a lock nut 11 screwed on the screw 15, andengaging .the b'os's 16.

The operationof the device is as follows: Prior 'to' the lling of thecontainer I0 with fluid,

springs 12 and 13 hold the valve head 45 unseated from the valve seat44. When fluid under pressure isdirected into the chamber 34 throughVone of the passageways leading into thefsame, the iiuid flows throughthe openings'1l in the skirt 69 of clamping member 49, through thepassageway 33, through the valve mechanism I2 and into the interior ofthe container I9.l When the pressure within the chamber 34 becomes highenough, the same raises the diaphragm 24 against the action of springs12 and 13 and closes'the valve mechanism I2. If now the mechanismconnected to thel body IG and to which fluid under pressure is to bedelivered loses pressure, the pressure in the chamber 34 drops andVsprings 12 and 13 force the diaphragm 24 downwardly, opening the valvemechanism. I2. Fluid now iiows through the passageway between thesurface 41 of the valve head 45 and the valve seat 44. Usually, the saidpassageway is extremely small and, due to the rapid expansion of the uidowing from the container I2 and-to the chamber 34, a'markedrefrigeration effect is produced which tends to convert into frost allminute particles of water present in the gas passing through the valvemechanism. If the valve head and seat were located above the lowermostportion of the end wall of container I9 and within the tubular portionI9 of housingV I6, the frost so formed would accumulate on the walls ofthe device and would quickly ll up the space and prevent the flow offluid through thel valve mechanism. By placing the valve seat and valvehead at the lowermost point of the regulating device and well inwardlyof the upper end f wall I4 of container I9, any frost formed thereonisreadily broken off when the valve-head becomes again seated and drops tothe bottom of the container. By the use of a heat insulating materialfor the insert 43 on which the valve seat 44 is formed, the formation offrost is Vgreatly retarded and any frost formed does not readily adherethereto'.

The advantages of my invention'are manifest.

The device is extremely sturdy and rigid inV construction and willwithstand extremely highpressures such as several thousand pounds to thesquare inch. By means of the construction dis.-

rclosed, the disadvantages of frosting at the localthe tremendouspressures procured by the pressure regulating springs of the pressureregulating device.

Changes in the specific form of my invention, as herein described, maybe made within the scope of what is claimed Without departing from thespirit of my invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protectby Letters Patent is:

1. A pressure regulator comprising a tubular container having an upperend wall formed with a threaded outlet neck, a nipple screwed into saidneck, a bushing in the lower end of said nippel having a grooveextending about the same and a shoulder engaging the end of the nipple,an 1 O-ring in said groove engaging the inner surface of the nipple, aninsert in the end of said bushing and provided with a valve seatextending below the end wall of the container and said nipple, a valvefor engagement with the valve seat and pressure responsive means foroperating said valve.

2. A pressure regulator comprising a tubular container for fluid underpressure having an upper wall formed with an outlet therein, a tubularfitting attached to said container at said outlet and having a portionextending through and below said wall, a bushing in the lower end ofsaid tting having a groove extending about the same and a shoulderengaging the lower end of said tting, an O-ring in said groove engagingthe inner surface of the fitting, an insert in the 6 end of said bushingand provided with a valve seat extending below the upper wall of thecontainer and said iitting, a valve for engagement with said valve seatand pressure responsive means for operating said valve.

RICHARD T. CORNELIUS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 717,990 Harvey Jan. 6, 19031,279,468 Smith Sept. 17, 1918 1,659,263 Harris Feb. 14, 1928 1,715,801Turner June 4, 1929 1,807,200 Dennison May 26, 1931 1,893,859 GleasonJan. 10, 1933 1,995,949 Spence Mar. 26, 1935 2,190,464 Wile Feb. 13,1940 2,296,145 Christensen Sept. 1942 2,354,283 St. Clair July 25, 19442,393,805 Parker Jan. 29, 1946 2,483,572 Cater Oct. 4, 1949 FOREIGNPATENTS Number Country Date 117,816 Germany of 1898 192,499 Germany of1906 396,308 Great Britain of 1933

